The day after Hurricane Matthew. Hardly a square foot of the 150,000 square foot facility escaped the wrath of the Category 4 storm which ripped off siding and roof of the main brewery (above) and caused extensive flooding at the recycling plant. Fifteen days later, the first bottle of Kalik was brewed, thanks to the tireless efforts of up to 60 staff members who assisted contractors with repairs, many working 12 hour days seven days a week out of dedication.
Two weeks after Hurricane Matthew tore through southern New Providence with winds of up to 145 mph downing utility poles, tearing off roofs and flooding homes, schools and businesses, the country’s largest publicly-held manufacturing plant, Commonwealth Brewery, was back up and in production, thanks to as many as 60 CBL employees who showed up to help with repairs, working around the clock. Today, Commonwealth Brewery Managing Director Hans Neven called them ‘amazing.’
The employees who showed up to help were nothing short of amazing,” said Neven, who oversees the brewery and business that includes 57 stores on 11 islands and represents 229 brands, including Kalik, The Beer of The Bahamas. “The employees came to help restore the brewery and once they started, they took it on as a mission, to get their brewery and recycling plant back up and running. What they accomplished in a little over two weeks could have taken months. On behalf of shareholders, directors and management, I wish to thank them publicly and let them know that we were beyond impressed, we were moved by their dedication.”
Ed Beneby, engineering manager for the brewery, saw the damage.
“The day after Hurricane Matthew passed we visited the brewery and the site was extensively damaged,” said Beneby, the brewery’s longest-standing staff member. “The middle section of the roof was completely torn off, there was flooding on the interior of the brewery floor and offices and equipment were severely damaged. I have been here since 1986 when the brewery was under construction and in 1987 when the first production began and to see the destruction done in one day is heartbreaking. My initial thoughts were that it would take months before we were operational again.”
There was hardly a part of the 150,000 square foot facility that was untouched. Workers had to protect expensive manufacturing and quality control equipment, preserve what inventory they could, assist with structural repairs, salvage office materials and haul and saw fallen trees.
Commonwealth Brewery staff members turn attention to finishing touches as the plant resumes full operational capacity after sustaining extensive damage during Hurricane Matthew.
“What I witnessed on Day One and now 21 days later is amazing,” Beneby continued. “To see and hear Kalik on the bottling line is a testament to all the hard work of the brewery team members, some who worked seven days and long hours for the past three weeks. I’m proud of the job we have done in the short period of time.”
Hurricane Matthew hit the plant on October 6 and by October 21, only 15 days later, Commonwealth Brewery, which produces Kalik, Heineken, Guinness, and Vitamalt was back to brewing and the first bottle was capped and ready for market four days later.
“Thanks to the dedication of committed staff members, many of whom were also dealing with repairs to their homes, and to careful management of inventory prior to the storm,” said Neven, “Kalik and other brands were back on market in record time and there was never a time that our stores ran out of inventory.”
Ed Beneby, (left) Commonwealth Brewery Limited engineering manager and Ricardo Roberts (right) brewing manager grab a Kalik as it rolls off the bottling line. Staff of the brewery jumped into action to ensure that production resumed just 21 days after Hurricane Matthew severely damaged the brewery.
Diane Phillips & Associates
